Is it healthy to go veg?

Question

I am 14 years old,5'5, and 130pounds.I'm in sports and exercise on my own 3 times a week. I was wondering if it's healthy for a young person to stop eating meat? I'm sure I could resist the meat especially since now I know all the ways they kill meat but could I get sick or lose certain vitamins that come from meat?

Answer 1

Yes as long as you make sure your body is still getting enough nutrients then going veg is a healthy option. lots of people like to scare you and say that if you stop eating meat you will become really unhealthy and stop growing and all that kinda of stuff to put you off. but its not true i was born a vegetarian and have grown up strong and healthy. as you are coming off meat you will probably need to take some supplements at first to make sure your body is still getting the nutrients you need, but you will learn more about what you can eat to replace meat and will need them less.

Answer 2

There are healthy ways to be veggie.It can be very hard sometimes and you will need to do a lot of research on the healthy was to get all the vitamins and other nutrients you need.

We can be much heather than meat eaters, or we could live off pop-corn and peanut butter cups.

Good Luck

Answer 3

I'd stick with meat and fish, especially if you are very athletic and still growing. Strenuous activity can take its toll and animal products are the most effective way for getting the nutrients you need to repair your body. Fish oils are excellent sources of nutrients.

You could get by with eggs and dairy, but meat would be , IMO, the better and more complete option.

Answer 4

it is always healthier to eat meat...protein comes from meat. if you decide to go vegiterian, you would need to eat alot of peanut butter and beans to supplement your protein intake.

Answer 5

yes its healthy. I stopped eating meat last year (i'm 14) and I'm healthy. my last blood test showed that i have good levels of iron, protein and B12.

You will only get sick if you do something foolish like live of chips. make sure you eat plenty of spinach, nuts, legumes and/or tofu for iron and protein.

Answer 6

Of course going veg is healthier for you!

The first girl dont know what shes talking about, you can get your protein from many other foods. That AREN'T meat

Answer 7

Some of the leading killers in America today, including heart disease, cancer, obesity, and strokes, are directly linked to meat-based diets. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in America today, and it is caused by the build-up of cholesterol and saturated fat from animal products in our arteries.

The only two doctors in human history who have successfully reversed heart disease have included an exclusively vegetarian diet as a part of their programs. The average vegan cholesterol level is 133 (compared to 210 for meat-eaters); there are no documented cases of heart attacks in individuals with cholesterol under 150. Other health problems tied to clogged arteries, like poor circulation and atherosclerotic strokes, can be virtually eliminated with a vegan diet.  

Vegans are approximately one-ninth as likely to be obese as meat-eaters and have a cancer rate that is only 40 percent that of meat-eaters. People who consume animal products are also at increased risk for many other illnesses, including strokes, obesity, osteoporosis, arthritis, Alzheimer's, multiple allergies, diabetes, and food poisoning.

Answer 8

Yes,but you specifically because you burn so many calories,and really depend on protein, you need to make sure you get enough of it.

Answer 9

Borrow a few books and do some research. If you include eggs in your vegetarian diet you will be getting everything you got form meat. If you don't eat dairy or eggs it gets a bit harder since you have to worry more about getting enough calcium, iron and B12.

I've been a vegetarian for 30 years. I eat eggs, but very little dairy, since like most older people I'm becoming lactose intolerant. I drink soy milk now.  

Answer 10

THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF A VEGETARIAN DIET

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Studies have shown that vegetarians (following a well-balanced low-fat high-fibre vegetarian diet) often have lower incidence of coronary artery disease, hypertension, obesity and some forms of cancer.

A vegetarian diet tends to be lower in total fat, and vegetarians tend to eat proportionally more polyunsaturated fat to saturated fat compared with non-vegetarians. (Animal products are the major sources of dietary saturated fat).

A vegetarian diet can be a very healthy option but it is important to ensure it is well balanced. You could stuff your face with chips and chocolate at every meal and be vegetarian but you wouldn’t be doing your health much good.

A typical vegetarian diet closely matches expert dietary recommendations for healthy eating, being low in saturated fat and high in fibre, complex carbohydrates, and fresh fruit and vegetables. As long as you eat a variety of foods you will be getting all the nutrients you need.

http://www.vegsoc.org/health/

FAMOUS VEGETARIANS - SPORTS PERSONALITIES

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http://www.ivu.org/people/sports/

VEGETARIAN BODYBUILDERS

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http://www.t-nation.com/tmagnum/readTopi...

http://www.vegetarianbodybuilder.com/ind...

SPORTS NUTRITION FOR VEGETARIAN ATHLETES

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http://www.adksportsfitness.com/august20...

Answer 11

It is very healthy and in fact, vegans still get about twice the RDA of protein so that's not a worry.

Andrews is a vegetarian university:

http://www.andrews.edu/cas/nutrition/

An article on a vegan body builder (and his site):

http://wweek.com/editorial/3436/11241/

http://veganbodybuilding.com/

And here's a site that has a Vegetarian Starter Kit posted online (you can order a hard copy and in Spanish too) which is put out by 6,000 physicians:

http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/vsk/

You can actually get most vitamins and minerals from plants and better sources as well as many more you weren't getting because meat crowded them out. If you go vegan (which is no animal products) you would want to be careful about B12 which you can get from fortified milk alternatives, and nutritional yeast (which is yummy on popcorn and makes a delicious cheesy sauce) or from a supplement. If you get your exercise outside you are likely good on Vitamin D (unless you use sunscreen) but otherwise you probably want to take at least 1000 IU a day no matter which diet you follow (meateaters too -- milk is not a natural source nor sufficient and it's fortified from sheep lanolin sources):

http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/vsk/p...

http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/b12.h...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_D#D...

Answer 12

Yes, as long as you account for all of the nutrients your body needs. When done properly, vegan, vegetarian and meat eating diets can all be very healthy.

Marcia--eating fish is NOT "veg".

Answer 13

Yes it is healthy for anyone no matter age, height, or weight to  go vegetarian.

As long as make sure to eat foods with protein and iron you should no problem. I'd recommend getting your blood checked for vitamins and iron  a little while after going vegetarian just to be sure, some people do need suppliments.

Answer 14

even though it is healthier to go veg you still need protiens. but if you go vegan that changes alot because you dont eat any dairy. but since you are still young you should probably keep on eating meat until you get all your proteins.

hpoe i helped =D

Answer 15

I think you would be just as healthy if not more healthy if you go veg.  And you can keep your weight good.  I know... it bothers me to eat meat too knowing these things.. so  I try to eat lots of fish.  But there are many other ways to get protein besides meat such as pinto beans.

Answer 16

Yes, it is healthy. Nobody has to eat meat, and you can get all nutrients from an entirely plant-based diet except for vitamin B12 (which you can get from a vitamin or fortified foods).  Do your research and make sure that you eat a varied diet of fruits, veggies, nuts, grains, beans, etc.  

Answer 17

Yes, a vegan or vegetarian person can reach and maintain the same levels of fitness as anyone else.

All vegetarians should take a B12 supplement since most people eat meat, dairy AND fortified cereals yet still have a B12 status lower than recommended. Vegetarians B12 supplements are available.

http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/b12

You do not need any special foods to be vegetarian. Bread, pasta, cereal, rice, beans, peas, lentils, nuts, seeds, fruits and veggies can provide EVERYTHING but B12. Minerals such as iron and calcium are easy to find when you include plenty of dark green leafy vegetables such as mustard, collards and kale.

http://www.veganhealth.org/sh

http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo

If you have any doubts in the potential of a vegetarian diet, let go of them now.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/sto...

http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/phpBB2/...

http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/phpBB2/...

http://www.macdanzig.net/bio.php

http://www.scottjurek.com/career.php

Answer 18

since when was meat healthy?  why do you think that meat is to be consumed in small portions?

anyways...     here's a  reference of minerals and vitamins in veggies/fruits...

http://www.healthalternatives2000.com/mi...

who started this whole veggies are deadly thing anyways?  why is everyone falling for this?

doesn't anyone have a nanny or gramma who pushes you to eat your vegetables?  ????

you are not going to lose anything if you drop the meat and dairy.

seriously..  meat and dairy together still have lesser vitamins, minerals and proteins than most fruits, veggies, legumes, tubers....  

well, you get the point.